FBI Director: After review, FBI stands by decision not to charge Clinton

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FOX 32 Chicago) - After creating a political firestorm by implying that new emails could lead to charges against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, the director of the FBI announced in a new letter Sunday that agents had not found any reason to charge her.

FBI Director James Comey sent the letter to chairman of congressional committees. It read in part: "I write to supplement my October 28, 2016 letter that notified you the FBI would be taking additional investigative steps with respect to former Secretary of State Clinton's use of a personal email server. Since my letter, the FBI investigative team has been working around the clock to process and review a large volume of emails from a device obtained in connection with an unrelated criminal investigation. During that process, we reviewed all of the communications that were to or from Hillary Clinton. Based on our review, we have not changed out conclusions that we expressed in July with respect to Secretary Clinton."

That opinion in July was that Clinton should not face criminal charges based on her use of the personal email server.

The "device obtained in connection with an unrelated criminal investigation" belonged to former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). Weiner is the estranged husband of longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin. Abedin filed for divorce after new allegations that Weiner had been sexting with a minor.

Generally, the Department of Justice discourages announcements like Comey's Oct. 28 letter in the weeks leading up to an election.

Before Comey's letter was released, Republicans and Democrats weighed in on Clinton's email problems.

"If you're tired of the politicization of the Justice Department and you're tired of scandal after scandal after scandal, our framers were smart enough to give us an option," said Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). "Congress can't fix it, but the American people can on Tuesday."

"The decision to release that letter violated two protocols -- the protocol of not releasing controversial information right on the eve of an election, and also one about not talking about pending investigations," said Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine. "It's been puzzling and troubling."